NEWS

Tema Labour challenges gov’t to clarify TOR tank farm debate

The Tema District Council of Labour has waded into the tank farm debate between the Tema Oil Refinery and the Energy Ministry.

Chairman of the Council, Emmanuel Addo Kumi said the government must make its position clear on the matter that has left officials at TOR and the Energy ministry on a collision course.

“If it is on the drawing board they should make it public,” he said, adding it is not enough for the Minister to go about trumpeting such policy initiatives when there is no clear government policy guideline on the matter.

He also cautioned the minister against making controversial comments which have no policy foundation.

Emmanuel Addo Kumi’s comments come at a time when TOR is fighting off attempts by the Energy ministry to turn the refinery into a Tank Farm.

Addressing foreign investors, the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko is reported to have announced plans to build a new refinery with a capacity of 150,000 bbls.

His Deputy Dr Mohammed Amin Adam also confirmed the minister’s pronouncement when he told Joy News’ Evans Mensah that TOR with its current capacity of 45,000 has not been operational.

He stated that the new refinery to be built will need a storage facility and TOR will be the best option.

Even though he claimed the ministry had discussed the matter thoroughly with officials of TOR, they have denied having any such meeting.

“I didn’t come to TOR to preside over its demise. I have not come here to run this company by scrapping it,” TOR CEO Isaac Osei said in an interview.

On Monday, Mr Osei met with workers of TOR during which he reiterated his commitment to resist any attempt to scrap TOR.

In an interview with Joy News’ Evans Mensah, Chair of the TOR workers union Elton Botchwey reported the TOR CEO as saying the proposal to turn TOR into a tank farm is not a government policy.

He, therefore, wondered why the minister decided to make such a pronouncement when there is no such policy by the government.

Elton Botchwey said they have booked an appointment with the Energy Minister to try to resolve the matter.

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